England player ratings vs Argentina | Autumn Nations Series
England player ratings: England’s November Test series is being billed as a dress rehearsal for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
If it was a rehearsal of sorts than England fluffed their lines. The biggest problem for England is an attack bereft of ideas and flat-out failing to fire.
Here’s how we rated the England players.
15. Freddie Steward – 7.5
Remarkably secure in the wet. He may be the size of a blindside but he plays like a far smaller man. Got caught a little out of position by an admittedly fine pass for Los Pumas’ first 5-pointer. Not to blame here.
14. Jack Nowell – 5
The Exeter Chief has battled his way back into the contention but didn’t receive the ball in the first half. Tried to force his way into the match off the ball in the second, with plenty of kicks chased and a few telling carries made. He coughed up a costly fumble in the 73rd minute.
13. Manu Tuilagi – 7
A relatively svelt Tuilagi was on trucking duties. Put on a couple of wonderfully violent hits. England are well able to win collisions in midfield but for all that their attack remains more sledgehammer than rapier.
Manu Tuilagi – Classic hit #ENGvARG pic.twitter.com/w6iMViFTBk
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 6, 2022
12. Owen Farrell – 6
Played the conditions well, choosing to put boot to ball and Test the Argentinian handling early doors, a strategy that paid dividends. His goalkicking was spot on but he has to be held to partly to account for the aforementioned blunt attack.
11. Joe Cokanasiga – 8
A rare, rare start for the 24-year-old, who will have been desperate to lay down a marker ahead of a Rugby World Cup year. Barging over for his side’s first try demonstrated that his raw power can still offer England so much. Made metres every time he touched the ball.
10. Marcus Smith – 5
Smith isn’t built for inclement weather and struggled to play his way into the game in the first 40. Grew into the game as the track dried up but was ultimately outplayed by Carreras.
9. Ben Youngs – 6
Very much a known quantity. Managed the game well before going off after 55 minutes.
1. Ellis Genge – 7.5
Brought a tonne of nasty prop energy and made the most of a few opportunities to cut loose. Gave as good as he got at loosehead and was dominating the scrums before being taken off after 59 minutes, a decision Eddie Jones may now be rueing.
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie – 5.5
His patter with Julian Montoya was an enjoyably feisty subplot to proceedings but he struggled to make a dent in a mean Pumas pack.
3. Kyle Sinckler – 7.5
Looked to make his presence felt with ball in hand and was repeatedly used at first receiver. Traded penalties at scrum time with Thomas Gallo in the first half before dominating in the second before being hauled off. Starting to find form again after disc problems over the summer.
4. Alex Coles – 7
A debutant with a point to prove. The early spill of a high ball was forgivable given the conditions and he got through a tonne of work, popping up in attack the odd time.
5. Jonny Hill – 6
Was a dominating presence in England’s lineout but he’s yet to rediscover the form that saw him picked for the British & Irish Lions.
6. Maro Itoje – 5
Drafted into the back row with the continuing absence of Courtney Lawes. The 28-year-old is a world-class lock but he just isn’t explosive enough for the back row.
7. Tom Curry – 5
This wasn’t vintage Curry by any stretch, the Sale Shark being overshadowed by Pablo Matera and co in the battle of the units.
8. Billy Vunipola – 5
Another man rebuilding his stock value in the face of heavy criticism. Ate his fair share of the hard yards and looks fitter. Couldn’t find much change in the Argie pack however.
REPLACEMENTS:
17. Mako Vunipola – 4
England lost their scrum ascendancy when he came on.
18. Joe Heyes – 4
As with Vunipola, the scrum tanked when he came on.
22. Jack van Poortvliet – 8
Scored a much-needed try with his first touch of the ball literally seconds after coming on. That’s what you call an impact.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments